Theatrical device.



G.l A. BYRNE.

THEATBIGAL DEVICE. APPLIUATION FILED uma,

Patent-@a Aug. 9, 1910:

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GEORGE A. BYENE, or WASHINGTON, Anrsrnrc'r Or ooLUMBrA.

THEATEICAL nEvroE.

Sipeoication of Letters Patent. l

Patented Aug. 9, 1916.

Application filed January 3, 1910. Serial No. 535,934.

To 'all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Brunn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at` Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Devices7 of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is the production of a spectacular and entertaining effect by creating a disruptive electric discharge between two or more living objects. As one illustration of my said invention, I have selected for the purpose of this specification, the case of two men engaged in a sparring'contest. In such a case each` boxer wears upon his body and upon his fists a mediumv for conducting electricity, and these conductors are so connected to a source of electricity that when the fist of one of the individuals is broughtinto proxf imity tothe bodyof the other individual there will take place between said first and body luminous electrical discharges-` In order to more fully describe my said invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1, shows a form of my invention as applied to two boxers in a sparring con,- test; Fig. 2, another form of my invention as applied to two boxers in a sparring contest; Figs. 3 and 4, detail sectional views of some of the different forms of material which may be used in making the suits of the said boxers; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of one of the boxing gloves used by the said boxers; Fig. 6, a detail sectional view of a portion of said boxing gloves, and, Fig. 7 a detail view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing a construction of shoe which may be used in the applica tion of my invention as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In my invention as illustrated in Fig. 1, each of the individuals 1 and 2 wears a union suit extending from his ankles to his neck and over his arms to the wrists. These suits` may be of an interwoven metal and textile fabric such as indicated in Fig. 3, where 3 indicates the metal which may consist of fine copper' threads, and 4 the textile fabric interwoven therewith. Or this suit may consist simply of a textile fabric union suit lined with tinfoil as in Fig. 4 where 5 indicates the tinfoil and G the textile fabric of the suit. Or, Lif desired the conducting element of the suit may be simply a coating of metallic paint applied to the skin of the individual, or any other suitable arrangement. Each of the above mentioned con# testants wears a pair of boxing gloves each of which is provided with an area 7 of fabric such, for example, as that shown in Fig. 3, or any of the kinds referred to. The conducting element of this fabric is placed in electrical connection with the conducting elements of the fabric of the union suit as by conductor 8, or in any other suitable way. If desiredY conducting fabric 7 may be placed also on the inside of the glove so as to be next to the skin, said fabric 7 being connected'to fabric 7 as by conductors 8(see Fig. 6).

The conducting element of the union suit of each of the individuals is in electrical engagement with two flexible conductors 9 and 10 respectively, which are connected through a suitable bracket l1, or other device to the conducting element of the said suits at the ankle thereof. These flexible conductors 9 and 10 Vconnect to a suitable source of electricity 12. In F ig. l, this source is indicated diagrammatically as a I-Ioltz frictional electrical machine.

In the case illustrated in Fig. 1, the in dividuals stand upon a mat 13, or other stage covering, of insulating material. Since' the conductors worn by the two individuals, Iform the terminals of a source of high ten`- sion electricity, when the boxing gloves of one of the said individuals is brought in proximity to the body of the `other individual, a disruptive discharge will take place between the said boxing gloves and the body of the other individual.` In a fast sparring contest such luminous discharges take place in rapid succession thereby producing a most spectacular and fascinating effect. Moreover, each of such luminous discharges clearly, indicates the exact position of the various blows delivered.` The noise made by these disruptive discharges greatly adds to the effect thus produced. y In the form of my invention shown in Fig- 2, the two contestants 1 and 2( may wear the `same kind of suits as in Fig. 1, but in Fig. 2, I have shown an arrangement which dispenses with the use of the flexible conductors 9 and 10. In order to accomplish this, I have the two individuals perform on a sectional mat or stage covering made up of top plates 14 to 21 of metal resting upon insulation 2.2, and divided longitudinally and transversely by insulation 23 and 24. In

such a case each individual wears a shoe (see Fig. 7) provided with a metallic plate or sole piece 25 which is in electrical connection with the conducting element of the union suit through conductor 26, or otherwise.

Alternate conducting sections are in electrical engagement with the same pole of a source of electrical supply. This source of electricity is shown in Fig. 2 as a Ruhmkorif induction coil, but it may be a functional electrical machine, or any other desired source of electricity.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2, permits of an absolute freedom of movement of the feet of the individuals, subject only to the requirement that each individual shall remain in one of said conducting sections at a time, and that the two individuals shall not at the same time occupy sections connected to the same pole of the source of electricity. The latter requirement, however, is not likely to be violated, owing to the fact that the same pole is connected to alternate sections and therefore if the contestants both at the same time stand on sections connected to same pole, they will be too far apart to properly engage in a sparring contest.

lVhile I have herein shown and described certain specific embodiments of my said invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to these alone.

What I claim is:

l. A theatrical apparatus, comprising conducting garments adapted to beworn upon the hands and body of separate individuals, and a source of electricity connected to said garments, the said garments on said individuals constituting the terminals of said source of electricity and creating a disruptive discharge when the hands of one indi vidual are brought into proximity to the body of the other individual.

2. A theatrical apparatus, comprising an electrical conducting material-adapted to be spread over the body of two or more living objects, and a source of electricity connected to said conducting material, a disruptive electrical discharge taking place between said objects when in proximity to each other.

3. A theatrical apparatus, comprising two or more garments to be worn by separate individuals, said garments comprising in their make up electrical conducting material, and a source of electricity having its terminals connected to the conducting element-of said garments.

4. A theatrical apparatus, comprising boxing gloves and a garment to be worn by each of two individuals, each of said garments and boxing gloves comprising electrical conducting material, and a source of electricity having its terminals connected respectively to the garments and boxing gloves worn by the two individuals.

5. A theatrical apparatus, comprising a plurality of insulated conducting plates, a source of electricity connected thereto, conducting shoes adapted to be worn by individuals standing on said plates, and electrical conducting garments worn on the hands and body of said individuals and connected to the conducting element of said shoes.

6. Amusement apparatus, comprising electrical conducting garments adapted to be worn by separate bodies, a source of high tension electricity, and means to connect the terminals of said source respectively to the conducting elements of the garments of said separate bodies.

7. Amusement apparatus, comprising composite garments composed of electrical conducting and non-conducting material, and a source of high tension electricity the terminals of which are connected respectively to the conducting elements of separate garments, the said garments adapted to be worn by separate individuals.

8. Theatrical apparatus, comprising electrical conductors worn by two separate movable human figures, said conductors being disposed on the bodies of said figures to form an area from which electrical discharges may take place at a plurality of points, conductors worn upon the lists of said figures, and a source of electricity having its terminals connected respectively to the conductors of said separate individuals, whereby when the fists of either of said individuals are brought into proximity to the discharge area of the body of the other ligure a disruptive discharge will take place between the conductors of said lists and conductors within said area.

9. Theatrical apparatus, comprising a plurality of electrical conductors adapted to be supported by the bodies and hands of a plurality of individuals, and a source of electricity adapted to be connected and disconnected to said bodies by the movements thereof and while said object-s are in irregular motion the arrangement being such that a disruptive electrical discharge will take place between the lists and bodies of said objects when said conductors are in proximity to each other and when the said conductors are in connection with said source.

lO. 1n apparatus of the character described, garments comprising metal fabric, a source of electricity, and means to connect said source of electricity to said fabric.

11. Amusement apparatus, comprising a source of electricity, terminals connected thereto, garments comprising electrical conductors, and adapted to be worn by moving figures, said conductors adapted to be brought into variable contact with said terminals by the movement of said figures.

l2. Amusement apparatus, comprising a source of electricity, a plurality of electrical conducting plates connected in groups to the respective terminals of said source, one or more figures movable on said plates, and conductors` Worn by said figures and adapted to make movable electrical connection With said plates.

13. Amusement apparatus, comprising a source of electricity, a plurality of electrical conducting plates arranged in groups, the respective plates of each group connected in multiple with each other, and the said groups connected respectively to the two terminals of said source, one or more figures movable on said plates, and conductors Worn by said l5 GEORGE A. BYRNE.

Witnesses:

GEO. B. Prrrs, W. MAX. DUVALL. 

